Dr. Alison Mc Letchie

Dr. McLetchie has been teaching at the tertiary for over 10 years. Prior to entering academia, she had extensive experience in the private sector as well as with various not for profit organizations.

Biography

Dr. Mc Letchie's as an academic shares with her students her love of learning with the hope that they will be infected by her enthusiasm. Additionally, using the theories and methodologies of anthropology and sociology, she encourages students to critically examine their world, the issues that confront them and use these tools to frame the questions they ask and shape the solutions they consider.

Education

Ph.D. in Sociology May 2013, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, Dissertation: “The Parasitic Oligarchy? The Elites of Trinidad and Tobago”

Certificate in Museum Management December 2003, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

M.A. in Anthropology August 2003, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC,Thesis: “Incidents of Douglarzation: The Worship of la Divinia Pastora in Trinidad”

Research Interests

Dr. Mc Letchie’s research interests includes music, religion, race and ethnicity, social inequality and the experiences of Caribbean immigrants. She has written and presented extensively on calypso, Caribbean carnival and Catholics in the Americas.

Activities and Honors

Global Leadership Program Award, Claflin University, April 2015.

Faculty SEED Award, Claflin University, April 2014.

Summer Fellowship Award, The Graduate School, University of South Carolina, 2012.

Summer Writing and Research Award, Department of Sociology, University of South Carolina, 2012.

The Inaugural George Priestly Social Justice Award for Graduate Student Paper, Caribbean Studies Association May 2010.

Recent Presentations

“Composing Church Music in the Caribbean”. Paper presented at SEMSEC, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago n March 4, 2016

“Is Carnival Time Again: Constructing Caribbean Identity in the Southern United States” with Dr. Daina Nathaniel. Paper presented at the Arts & The Public (ASAP/7) Clemson University n September 25, 2015

“Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Isolation as Advantage, The Catholic Hill Example.” Paper presented at the Caribbean Studies Association, New Orleans, LA n May 25, 2015

“Shepherds to the Nation: la Divina Pastora and the Politics of Douglarization.” Invited respondent at the 17th Conference on Caribbean Theology in the Caribbean Today, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago n June 09 – 13, 2014.

“The Future is Now: Conversations with the Spirit.” Invited panelist at The Black Studies Program Lecture Series, The City College of New York, NY n September 26, 2013